Environmentalists say fresh studies suggest they may be harmful to health
The Supreme Court has dismissed an appeal against the
decision of the Madhya Pradesh High Court
which had dismissed a public interest petition seeking ban on PET
(thermoplastic polymer, polyethylene terephthalate) in packaging food,
drugs and beverages.
The petition was filed by Prani Mitra Samiti (Pramisha), a
non-governmental organization (NGO). While dismissing the special leave
petition, the apex court upheld the high court verdict, which based its
order on the fact that under the Food Safety Act, PET packaging had been
certified by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) 26 years ago.
Environmentalists say scientific studies by independent groups show
chemical elements in PET bottles react with chemical components in drugs
and cause leaching in different temperature conditions. These companies
might have BIS clearances, but the government should reconsider use of
PET bottles in the light of fresh studies, they say.
Public interest petitions were filed in Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh,
Uttar Pradesh, Punjab and Haryana, saying PET polluted beverages and
caused environmental hazard; several courts have rejected petitions on
the subject. NGO’s approached the health ministry for a ban on PET
packaging for medicines, saying leaching can have a carcinogenic impact.
Health ministry sets up expert committee
The health ministry set up an expert committee to look into the
matter after two Dehradun-based NGOs intensified protests against PET
bottles and demanded complete ban on its usage. Coloured and uncoloured
PET bottles are used as primary packaging material in pharmaceutical
liquid orals, suspensions and dry syrups. The expert committee has
submitted its observations to the Drug Testing Advisory Board (DTAB) and
it is scheduled to be discussed in next meeting.
The bench of Chief Justice P Sadashivam and Justice Ranjan Gogoi
rejected the plea outright last Friday. The bench observed that the
petitioner should have presented scientific studies or details in his
plea against PET packaging. The bench then asked the petitioner's
advocate Gautam Awasthi to read the Madhya Pradesh High Court order in
detail before dismissing the case.
The high court judgement stated that PET bottles have already been
certified by Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) and there is no specific
study by any recognised institution to show otherwise that such
packaging is hazardous to the health of consumers or the environment.
Further, the high court order took cognisance of the pollution control
board's response that PET bottles are recyclable and are not harmful to
human beings.
PET users
The country’s soft drinks market is the primary consumer for PET
bottles. In volume terms, 65 per cent of soft drinks now come in PET
bottles. The other major user industries include pharma, drinking water,
edible oil, milk, spices, honey, pickles, ketchup and confectioneries.
The PET raw material industry is planning to expand its capacity from
1.2 million tonnes to three million tonnes. As much as 60,000 tonnes is
used by the domestic industry; the rest is exported. The PET industry is
worth Rs 4,000-crore.
